Spark plug cleaner



p 1941- T. A. woRsHAM SPARK PLUG CLEANER 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 19, 1939 Inventor 77w MAS 14. Woks/MM,

A iiorneys Sept. 1941- 'T. A. WORSHAM 2,257,144

SPARK PLUG CLEANER Filed Dec. 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 k 41 Inventor A iiorneys Patented Sept. 30, 1941 SPARK PLUG CLEANER Thomas Arthur Worsham, East Chattanooga, Tenn, assignor to Frank J. Nolan, Chattanooga,

Tenn.

Application December 19, 1939, Serial No. 310,056 3 Claims. (Cl. 51-8) This invention relates generally to spark plug cleaners of a type generally similar to that constituting the subject matter of U. S. Patent No. 1,987,374, issued on January 8, 1935, upon which the present. device constitutes an improvement.

An important object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a spark plug cleaner of the character described comprising a valve unit or assembly of a novel construction and arrangement for controlling the air.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a spark plug cleaner of the aforementioned character comprising means operable by a single control for cleaning the plug after the sand blasting operation has been completed and for cleaning the screen which removes the sand from the air as said air leaves the device.

Qther objects of the invention are to provide a spark plug cleaner which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a. Study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a View in side elevation of a spark plug cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a View in vertical longitudinal section through the device, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 5-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical section through the valve unit, taken substantially on the line 56 of Fig. 4.

Figure '7 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 1-1 oi Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a shell or casing of suitable metal which is designated generally by the reference numeral I. The upper part of the casing I includes a pair of oppositely inclined wall portions 2 having openings 3 and 4 therein. Removably mounted in the opening 3 is a substantially cylindrical, inclined baffle 5 having a beveled inner end 6. The battle 5 includes a flange 1 on its outer end which is engaged with a complemental flange B, on the wall of the opening 3. Mounted on the outer end of the baflle 5 in the opening 3 is a flexible rubber washer 9 having a centrally located opening I!) therein for the reception of a spark plug to be cleaned, as at II. A ring I2 is engaged with the rubber washer.9, said ring'also being located in the opening 3. Screws I3 removably secure the elements 5, 9 and I2 in assembled position. A closure M for the opening 3.is pivotally mounted, as at I5, on the casing l.

The. opening 4 is formed to define a chamber I5'-with which an outlet passage I6 communicates. Connected with the outlet passage I6 and depending therefrom is .an air exhaust pipe IT to which a cleaning bag I3 is connected.

The wall of the opening 4 isflanged, as at I9, and mounted thereon is a removable conical screen 20. A removable plate 2] closes the opening 4, said plate being countersunk inithe casing I and secured thereto by screws 22. A metallic pacer 23 between the plate 2| and the screen 25 clamps the latter in position on the flange I9.

The top 24 of the casing .I has formed therein what may be referred toas wells 25, the purpose of which will be presently set forth. The bottom of the casing I isv in th form of a hopper 26 for the reception of sand. The hopper 25 has its upper portion flanged, as at 27, for abutting engagement with a horizontal shoulder 28 in an intermediate portion of the casing I.

. Screws 29 removably secure the hopper 2B in position.

Mounted in the casing I is a control unit which is designated generally by the reference numeral 30. The control unit 30 includes a cast metallic body 3| ,from which integral tubes 32 rise. A brace 33 extends between the upper portions of the tubes 32. The tubes 32 terminate in reduced, externally threaded upper end portions 34 which extend into the Wells .25. Nuts 35 are threaded on the upper end portions 34 of the tubes 32 in the wells 25 for suspending the control unit 30 in the casing. .The reduced portions 34 of the tubes 32 provide shoulders 36 beneath the wells 25 which coact with the nuts 35 for clamping the unit 3|] in position.

The tubes 32 communicate with a pair of chambers 31 in the lower portion of the body 3|. Removable plugs 38 close the lower ends of the chambers 31. The chambers 31 are of greater diameter than the bores of the tubes 32, thus tons 42 which are operable in the wells 25. Coil springs'43 encircle the upper end portions of the stems 40 and are engaged beneath the buttons 42 for normally closing the valves 4|. Means including suitable packings 44 in the upper porthe stems 45. It will be noted that the coil springs 43 are engaged with the packings 44.

The body 3| is formed to provide a nozzle 45 which is aligned with the cylindrical, inclined bafile for playing a blastof sand ladened air squarely on the spark plug The nozzle 45 is provided with an outer tip 46.= Mounted in the nozzle 45 is a jet tip 41. Formed in the body 3| is a vertical duct 48 which communicates with the nozzle 45 for elevating sand thereto from the lower portion of the hopper 26. The hopper 25, it will be observed, is shaped to cause the sand therein 'to feed by gravity toward the lower end of the duct 48.

.The lower portion of the body 3| is further provided with a chamber 49 into which is threaded a supply pipe 50 from a suitable source of air under pressure. .An opening 5| in the hopper 26 accommodates the air supply pipe 50. A clamping nut 52 is threaded onthe air pipe 50 and engaged beneath the hopper 26. Ducts 53 (seeFigs. 6 and 7) connect the chamber 49 with the chambers 31.. Then, an angular duct 54 connects the lower portion of one of the tubes 32 with the sanding nozzle 45, the tip 41 being mounted in the discharge end portion of said duct 54. These ducts, it will be noted, are formed in the body 3|.

Communicating with the lower portion of the other tube 32 is a nozzle 55 (see Figs; 4 and. 6) which is also directed toward the spark plug, H in the'cylindrical bafile 5. This tube is alsoconnected by a pipe 56 with an angular duct 51' (see Fig. 3) in the wall defining the exhaust opening l5. Communicating with the .duct 51 is an angular nozzle 58 which is adapted to direct a blast of air into the conical screen 20 for cleaning same.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the spark plug to be cleaned is forced into the comparatively small opening Ill of the resilient rubber washer 9 which supports said spark plug in position. Thus, the inner. end portion of the spar'kplug projects into the cylindrical bafile 5. The correct valve 4| is now opened against the tension of its respective coil spring 43 for admitting air to the sanding nozzle 45. As this air rushes through the nozzle 45 a suction is created in the duct 48 as a result of which sand from the hopper 26 will be drawn upwardly, said sand mixing with the stream of air. This sand ladened stream of air plays on Threadedly mounted on i V tions'of the tubes 32 prevent air leakage around and in the spark plug II in a manner to thoroughly clean said spark plug in a minimum of time. The construction and arrangement of the cylindrical baflle 5 is such as to cause most of The air Passes through the conical screen 25 by which it is further cleaned and exhausts into the bag !8 through the chamber [5, the passage l5 and the pipe I1. Any loose matter that may cling to the spark plug after the sanding operation is blown therefrom by opening the other valve 4| thus admitting clean air to the nozzle 55. This also admits air to the nozzle 58 for remov ing any accumulation of dust or sand from the screen 25. A gasket 59 of suitable material is provided between the flange of the'screen 20 and the flange IS. A washer 65 is provided on the air intake pipe 55 between the nut 52 and the hopper 26. The reference numeral 5| designates a drain plug for the hopper 25.

It is believed that the many advantages of a spark plug cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. I

What is claimed is:

1. A spark plug cleaner comprising a casing, means for supporting a spark plug to be cleaned in said casing, a valve unit mounted in the casing, said unit including a body, tubes on said.

2. A spark plug cleaner comprising a casing,

a hopper in said casing for the reception of sand, means for supporting a spark plug to be cleaned in the casing, a body positioned in the hopper, tubes rising from said body and secured to the top of the casing for suspending the body therefrom, a nozzle in the body for directing a blast of sand ladened air on the spark plug, said bodyhaving a duct therein communicating with the nozzle and the hopper for conducting sand from said hopper to said nozzle, another nozzle in the body for directing a stream of air on the spark plug, and manually opened valves operable in the tubes for controlling the first and second named nozzles.

3. A spark. plug cleaner comprising a casing for the reception of a spark plug, means for pro- J'ecting a blast of air and cleaning material on the spark plug, a screen for separating the cleaning material from the air, and means for pro- J'ecting a blast of air in a reverse direction through the screen for removing the cleaning material therefrom.

THOMAS ARTHUR WORSHAM. 

